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What are the rules regarding the use of too and also? I have read some relevant answers, but none made it clear.

If someone says "my phone is working", what should I reply?

  1. Mine is working too

  2. Mine is working also

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  • Could you give sentences in which you would use the one and the other, and then we can explain if you are not using them properly.
    – None
    Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 8:39
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    Check out englishpage.com/minitutorials/also.html
    – Jason C
    Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 8:39
  • if someone says- my phone is working. what should i say mine is working too or mine is working also?
    – tweet tu
    Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 8:42
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    You'd say my phone is working too or my phone is also working. To say my phone is working also sounds unnatural.
    – Carl Smith
    Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 17:00

3 Answers 3

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If someone says- “My phone is working.” What should I reply? Mine is working too (or) Mine is working also

Either of those are correct and natural-sounding. "As well" would work as well. :-)

I prefer "too" but that's just me.

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    It is not natural to say my phone is working also. That sounds foreign. You'd naturally say my phone is also working.
    – Carl Smith
    Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 17:06
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    I don't have a problem with my phone is working also (it doesn't sound unnatural to me), but I agree my phone is also working sounds better-stated.
    – Jason S
    Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 19:43
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Both "too" and "also" can be used as adverbs at the end of a clause like that and have the same meaning.

"Also" can also be used as a normal adverb. Like in the first sentence of this paragraph: You can say, "The word can also be used ...", but you CAN'T say "The word can too be used ..."

Finally, "also" can be used as a conjunction. "We need to clean the house. Also, we want to mow the lawn." Use of "too" as a conjunction is archaic.

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Mine is working too or mine is working also?

Grammatically and semantically, both sentences are correct. The only difference between them is as follows:

1- It's common and natural to use "too" at the end of a sentence, whereas also is not much used so and and is not considered natural if used at the end of the sentence. Also is normally used before a verb, after an auxiliary verb and sometimes at the beginning of a sentence.

2- The use of "also" is a bit formal. On the other hand, the use of "too" is much more natural and common in spoken and informal English.

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